Apple’s Let Loose event unveiled the latest iPad Pro and iPad Air models, with the Pro model now powered by the company’s latest M4 silicon chip, and the Air now available in a larger 13-inch model.
And along with the new hardware comes the long-awaited upgrades to two key accessories – the Apple Pencil Pro, which now offers haptic feedback and a gyroscope, and a redesigned Magic Keyboard that has a larger glass trackpad.
In a first for the Apple Pencil, haptic feedback has now been added, along with a ‘squeeze’ gesture. With haptics, users will experience a more intuitive user experience when they trigger an action, such as double-tap. With a squeeze, creators can easily bring up new menus, to switch between tools and colours, without breaking the rhythm of their creative process.
An added gyroscope enables users to roll the pencil to change the orientation of objects, making things even more convenient. And finally, Apple’s industry-leading Find My feature, which tracks the location of Apple devices, will make its way to the pencil, so users won’t have to worry about losing track of the highly prized tool on the go.
As for the Magic Keyboard, Apple has redesigned it in sleek aluminium with two colours, along with a larger trackpad with haptic feedback, improving the current Magic Keyboard’s smaller trackpad. While the combination of device and accessory will continue to offer the iconic magical floating design, there is now an added row of Function keys that offers standard access to features like screen brightness and volume controls.
With both these accessories, the entire experience of an iPad Pro as a creative tool now feels like using a MacBook, and then some, now with a highly responsive touchscreen and a creative writing and drawing tool to provide users with a true laptop replacement option. In the last few years, students have been more attuned to using an iPad over a laptop and with the new iPad Pro, Air, Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard combo blurring the lines of a having laptop by offering enhanced features such as a slim form factor, bright screen and more features, the concept of a laptop seems to be changing.
The Apple Pencil Pro will retail for S$199/US$129, and the Magic Keyboard from S$449/US$299 on 15 May 2024.
Trinity is a geek who enjoys watching anime, superhero and Sci-Fi movies and TV shows. She enjoys gaming (however has terrible gacha luck) and creates cool homebrew campaigns in her free time. She’s always up for a new adventure — with a cosy jacket and a good book in hand.
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